Ban on public gatherings continues, tension in Dooars

FROM DAILY TIMES INDIA

Siliguri, Jan 18 (IANS) Prohibitory orders banning gathering of more than four people continued in parts of the Dooars area of West Bengal’s Jalpaiguri district Sunday, a day after violent clashes between workers of the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) and the Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad (ABAVP) left 10 people injured.

The GJM, fighting for a separate Gorkhaland state, announced it would hold public meetings in the Dooars over the next two days.

‘The rallies will be held in Malabazar tomorrow (Monday) and Nagrakata Tuesday,’ said GJM press and publicity secretary Binoy Tamang.

But the rallies could become a new flashpoint of trouble with the police asserting they would not allow the rallies without formal permission.

‘They must take all proper permissions first,’ said Inspector General of Police (North Bengal) Kundan Lal Tamta.

Tamang, however, said that the party would go ahead with the rally with or without police permission.

Meanwhile, Tamta said four companies of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) would arrive here in the next couple days to control the escalating violence in the region.

GJM general secretary Roshan Giri told reporters 5,000 members of its volunteer force Gorkhaland Police would descend on the Dooars from the Darjeelign hills for the rally.

The GJM, which earlier gave a call for non-payment of taxes, Sunday said it would itself collect all revenues. ‘We will come up with a revenue collection unit within two-three days. The collected revenue would be used to carry out development work in the hills,’ said Giri.

The orders banning public gatherings continued in Malbazar, Jaigaon, Nagrakata and Banarhat areas of the Dooars. There was heavy police patrolling on the roads, besides police pickets were set up at several points.

At least 10 people, including two senior police officers, were injured following a violent clash Saturday.

PHOTO FEATURE: Mysterious Gorkha Liberation Army poster surfaces in Kalimpong

PHOTOS BY A K RAI

A mysterious Poster in the name of Gorkha Liberation Army appeared in Kalimpong with a warning to the West Bengal Government of war with sophisticated weapons. It is said that similar posters were seen in Mirik and Kurseong but later torn by Police as in Kalimpong.

Nari Morcha and GJMM supporters protesting in front of Kalimpong

A mysterious Poster in the name of Gorkha Liberation Army appeared in Kalimpong with a warning to the West Bengal Government of war with sophisticated weapons. It is said that similar posters were seen in Mirik and Kurseong but later torn by Police as in Kalimpong.

PHOTO FEATURE: INDIAN WONDERS BY PANKAJ CHETTRI

ALL PHOTOS BY PANKAJ CHETTRI

Pankaj Chettri is Sr. Lecturer-Dept. of Mathematics, Sikkim Manipal Institute of Technology, Majitar, Rangpo, Sikkim

Banaras Railway Station

 

Sarnath Temple

 

Asoka Stupa

 

Details of Asoka Pillar

PHOTO FEATURE: DHR Toy Train and Sonada Station

 

Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Toy Train chugs past Sonada Station. Dated 1900

Ban on public gatherings continues, tension in Dooars

FROM SINDH TODAY

Siliguri, Jan 18 (IANS) Prohibitory orders banning gathering of more than four people continued in parts of the Dooars area of West Bengal’s Jalpaiguri district Sunday, a day after violent clashes between workers of the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) and the Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad (ABAVP) left 10 people injured.

The GJM, fighting for a separate Gorkhaland state, announced it would hold public meetings in the Dooars over the next two days.

‘The rallies will be held in Malabazar tomorrow (Monday) and Nagrakata Tuesday,’ said GJM press and publicity secretary Binoy Tamang.

But the rallies could become a new flashpoint of trouble with the police asserting they would not allow the rallies without formal permission.

‘They must take all proper permissions first,’ said Inspector General of Police (North Bengal) Kundan Lal Tamta.

Tamang, however, said that the party would go ahead with the rally with or without police permission.

Meanwhile, Tamta said four companies of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) would arrive here in the next couple days to control the escalating violence in the region.

GJM general secretary Roshan Giri told reporters 5,000 members of its volunteer force Gorkhaland Police would descend on the Dooars from the Darjeelign hills for the rally.

The GJM, which earlier gave a call for non-payment of taxes, Sunday said it would itself collect all revenues. ‘We will come up with a revenue collection unit within two-three days. The collected revenue would be used to carry out development work in the hills,’ said Giri.

The orders banning public gatherings continued in Malbazar, Jaigaon, Nagrakata and Banarhat areas of the Dooars. There was heavy police patrolling on the roads, besides police pickets were set up at several points.

At least 10 people, including two senior police officers, were injured following a violent clash Saturday.

The police resorted to a baton charge and fired teargas shells to quell the violence which started in the Malbazar and Nagrakata areas when GJM activists tried to stop ABAVP supporters from work at a tea estate.

PRESS RELEASE: Demostration at Delhi against Bengal atrocities

We draw your attention to the atrocities perpetrated by the CPIM and its partners with the active support of the Government of West Bengal upon the supporters of the movement for a separate state of Gorkhaland.

The Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) has resorted to violent means to try and scuttle the peaceful agitation launched by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha.

The Democratic Youth Federation is trying to forment communal hatred against the peace loving Gorkhas and the peace loving Aadivasis in the Dooars region. The objective of the CPIM is to stir up sectarian hatred on both sides so that the legitimate demand of Gorkhaland gets sidelined in the flame of communal violence.

A group of more than hundred youths, male and female, carrying brandishing bows and arrows, rods, batons a mere distance away from a contingent of West Bengal Police. Yet not a single individual was arrested.

More of such armed groups barricaded through out Malbazaar area waiting for the Gorkha Janmukti Nari Morcha procession. The plan was simple. Stop the procession and mount an attack.

On 16th of January, 2009, the cadres of these organizations attacked our peaceful protestors of the Nari Morcha at Malbazar. With the active support of the state administration and the police, they wrought havoc upon the Nari Morcha. Hundreds of Nari Morcha as well as GJM supporters have been injured with the DYFI cadres using deadly bows and arrows and handmade bombs to try and deter the peaceful Gorkhas. The CPIM machinery is being ruthlessly deployed against Gorkhas in a blatant abuse of human and fundamental rights.

DYFI supporters set fire to five houses of GJM supporters. They also burnt motorcycles and vehicles near Malbazar in the Dooars area. GJM supporters in the Dooars are being beaten up and their houses ransacked with the state administration turning into a mute spectator.

MYSORE: CODAVA NATIONAL COUNCIL TO FORM HUMAN CHAIN IN CITY

FROM STAR OF MYSORE.COM

Mysore, Jan. 18 (KCU&ACP) Men and women from Kodagu attired in their traditional dresses will assemble at K.R. Circle here and form a human chain at 10 am on Jan. 21 to urge the Government to present the Bill seeking autonomous status to Kodava home land on the lines of Ghorkaland in Darjeeling, West Bengal.

Announcing this at a press meet held at Pathrakarthara Bhavan here today, Codava National Council (CNC) President N.U. Nachappa Codava said that similar protests had already been held in Bangalore and Delhi. A Bill seeking autonomous status for Gorkhaland in Darjeeling would be tabled during the next Lok Sabha session. Kodavas have been urging also to include Kodava land in the Bill to be tabled.

That would help the development of about 45 ancient Kodava lands. Even the United Nations approves preservation of any ancient land inhabited for centuries by a minority tribe. Similar to Jammu and Kashmir, special rights should be accorded to Jamma lands in Kodagu to preserve the natural treasure, explained Nachappa.

JOB OPENINGS: ALLAHABAD BANK OPENINGS 2009

Allahabad Bank
(A Government of India undertaking)
Head Office : 2, N. S. Road, Kolkata-700001)
Job Description : Allahabad Bank invites ONLINE applications from Indian Citizens for the posts as follows :
Probationary Officer JMG Scale-I (Rs 10000-18240) : 700 posts
Age : 30 years
Agriculture Field Officer JMG Scale-I (Rs. 10000-18240) : 175 posts
Age : 30 years

Officer – Information Technology JMG Scale-I (Rs 10000-18240) : 50 posts
Age : 30 years
Manager IT MMG Scale-II (Rs 13820-19920) : 50 posts
Age : 35 years
Manager – Law MMG Scale-II (Rs 13820-19920) : 10 posts
Age : 35 years
Manager – Security MMG Scale-II (Rs 13820-19920) : 15 posts
Age : 35 years
Apply : Apply Online. After applying online, take a print out of the system generated registration details and send it with relevant documents and application fee only by Ordinary Post to the designated Post Box Numbers in Mumbai.
Opening of Online Application : 20th December 2008
Last Date for Online Receipt of Applications : 19th January 2009
Date of Written Test for Specialists Officers : 1st March 2009
Date of Written Test for Probationary Officers : 18th March 2009

DARJEELING HILLS: Darjeeling tea packets to carry Gorkhaland mark: GJM

FROM PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

Siliguri, Jan 18 (PTI) All packets of Darjeeling Tea will henceforth carry the ‘Made in Gorkhaland’ mark before moving out from the tea gardens in the hills, Gorkha Jan Mukti (GJM) President Bimal Gurung has said.
Addressing a public meeting at Gorubathan last evening Gurung threatened to stop all revenue flow from Darjeeling hills to the state government.

“The Nari Morcha, a GJM frontal organisation, would open counters in tea gardens to sell tea so that no revenue flows out from the hills,” the GJM President said.

He added that soon Darjeeling tea would be auctioned at Pintail village in a DGHC guest house on the outskirts of Siliguri. The present auction houses are situated in Siliguri and Jalpaiguri in Dooars.

Meanwhile, normal life was affected for third day in Dooars in Jalpaiguri district following indefinite bandh call given by Akhil Bhartiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad.

BARANASI: A Nepali Dharmasala at Baranasi

 

A Nepali Dharmashala at Baranasi

SILIGURI: Siliguri shuts down over demand for separate Gorkhaland

FROM  SINDH TODAY

Siliguri (West Bengal, India), Jan.18 (ANI): A group that has been spearheading a movement for the creation of a separate Gorkhaland state, engineered a shutdown of all working establishments and educational institutions in Siliguri on Saturday.

The Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJMM) or Movement for a Separate Gorkhaland called a shutdown in the area after Friday’’s violence in a nearby area in which a number of their activists were injured.

Gorkhas, who are ethnic Nepalis, are demanding a separate state of ‘Gorkhaland’ be carved out of West Bengal to protect their culture and heritage.

But some tribesmen under the banner of Adibashi Vikash Parishanga (AVP) or Scheduled Tribes Development Council oppose the move.

The GJMM accused the AVP and the ruling Communists of targeting their cadre in the nearby locality on Friday.

‘Yesterday the women cell of GJMM (The Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha) had organised a rally in the Nagardatta locality. Aadivaasi Vikas Manch (the Scheduled Tribes Development Council), CPI Cadres (activists of state ruling Communist Party of India) and administration disturbed the activist. They also pelted stones on them in which many members of the cell were injured and some of them were hospitalised. The day before, we had blocked the highway and now we are on indefinite strike since morning,’ said Prakash Bomjan, secretary of GJMM at nearby Kalijhora area.

Officials said the violence was brought under control.

SIKKIM: Strike in Sikkim against power projects enters 577th day

FROM BUSINESS NEWSLINE

The ongoing relay hunger strike by Affected Citizens of Teesta against the proposed mega hydel power projects in North Sikkim reached its 577th day on Friday. The longest protest in the history of Sikkim has not received a response from the State Government.

Mr Dawa Lepcha General Secretary of Affected Citizens of Teesta told reporters that the protest is being held to protect the indigenous Lepchas and the fragile bio-diversity of Dzongu from the mega hydel power projects. He said that “Though the State Government is sidelining our demands despite several round of meetings, we are determined to carry on and are planning to intensify our protests.”

Mr Lepcha said that Affected Citizens of Teesta is working to sensitize the villagers of Dzongu about the ill-effects of the mega power projects and expose the irrational measures adopted by the Government while acquiring land for the projects. He said the State Government was forced to withdraw four of seven projects proposed in Dzongu due to the protests of ACT.

SIKKIM: About 30 birds dead in Sikkim due to unnatural reasons

FROM ZEENEWS 

Gangtok, Jan 17: About 30 birds, including chickens, have died at Ravanga locality in South District of Sikkim in the past two days, triggering fears about a possible outbreak of bird flu in the state.

Animal Husbandary and Veterinary Services Department Director K C Bhutia confirmed the death of over two dozen birds, including chickens, due to unnatural reasons at Ravangla but declined say if it was due birdflu.

The department was closely monitoring the mortality of birds, he told on Saturday here and added a report from the central health authorities was being awaited to confirm whether these birds have died due to bird flu or other reasons.

Sikkim had banned supply of poultry products from outside the state last month following the outbreak of bird flu in Malda district of West Bengal.

The state police had been conducting searches in vehicles at Rangpo and other checkposts bordering Sikkim to prevent supply of poultry products from outside.

 

PHOTO FEATURE: Gorkha women and children 1900

 CLICK ON THE IMAGES TO ENLARGE

A rare photo Gorkha women and children at Kurseong. Dated 1900

Gorkha women in 1900 at Kurseong town

DOOARS TERAI: GJM, tribals clash on streets

FROM TIMES OF INDIA

NAGRAKATA/BANERHAT (WEST BENGAL): One Gorkha Janamukti Morcha supporter pierced by an arrow and two tribals beaten black-and-blue – the

GJM-tribal violence ignited at Malbazar in the Dooars in north Bengal spread like fire hugging the national highway and threatened to spiral out of control on Saturday.

The situation looked the grimmest at Salugara, outside Siliguri town, where GJM and DYFI-led mobs bayed for each other’s blood all day, separated only by a cordon of policemen. In the sporadic brickbatting, five policemen were injured. Two rioters were also arrested.

As tension mounted, GJM chief Bimal Gurung declared at Gorubathan that all taxes in the three hill sub-divisions – Kurseong, Kalimpong and Darjeeling – would have to be paid to the party from February. He will hold a meeting at Jaigaon on Sunday, which tribal leaders have vowed to disrupt.

As early as 6 am on Saturday, it was clear that tribals had steeled themselves for a long day ahead. There were roadblocks on almost all roads — at every 500 metres on the national highway — and work in the tea gardens had come to a standstill. All Assam-bound vehicles were stuck on the highway.

Soon, news filtered in that Bishu Oraon of Kumlai tea estate and Rameswar Baraik of Songachhi tea estate – both were allegedly abducted by GJM on Friday evening – were found in a bruised and unconscious state near North Bengal Medical College and Hospital. Both have been admitted there in a critical condition.

Led by Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad (ABAVP) men, tribals threatened to storm Chamurchi in Banerhat when they got to know that GJM was going ahead with its rally at Palashbari tea estate despite Section 144 being imposed in the area. Chetan Rai, a GJM supporter and a resident of Banerhat, was stuck by an arrow when he went to the market. His motorbike was also set on fire. Sporadic incidents of violence were reported from Looksan, Bhagatpur, Kurti, Grassmore, Champaburi and Bhanunagar. Tribal mobs also targeted Nepali pockets in Nagrakata. Five houses, two motorbikes and a car were damaged and 10 shops set ablaze.

DOOARS TERAI: Jalpaiguri on the edge after fresh violence

FROM INDIAN EXPRESS

Kolkata: Normal life was thrown out of gear once again on Saturday and fresh violence rocked Darjeeling Hills and Doors region of Jalpaiguri district during separate bandh calls given by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) and a tribal group opposing it.

Sporadic clashes broke out between GJM supporters on one side and CPM cadres and tribal groups on the other. Police had to resort to lathi-charge and firing rubber bullets and teargas shells to control the mob.

Following Friday’s clashes, a 24-hour bandh in Darjeeling hills was called by the GJM while the Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad, a tribal group, called an indefinite bandh in Doors.

On Saturday, clashes broke out with between GJM supporters are CPM cadres in Salugara while tribal groups crossed swords with GJM supporters in Nagrakata area. The two groups were armed with lathis and pelted stones at each other, the sources said. Three persons were injured in the clash and three vehicles were damaged, they said. There were clashes at Nagarakata and Banarhat too.

DOOAR TERAI: Tension continues in Darjeeling Hills over GJM-Adivasi clash

FROM YAHOO NEWS

Siliguri, Jan 17 (IANS) At least 10 people, including two senior police officers, were injured following a violent clash Saturday between activists of the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) and the Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad (ABAVP) in West Bengal’s Jalpaiguri district.

‘A huge contingent of police, lead by Special Inspector General (Jalpaiguri) Julfikar Hussain, resorted to a baton charge and fired teargas shells to quell the violence,’ state Inspector General of Police (North Bengal) K.L Tamta said.

The incident took place at the Malbazar and Nagrakata areas when GJM activists tried to stop ABAVP supporters from work at a tea estate. The situation spun out of control as members of both groups went on the rampage and torched five houses.

Following the clash, the ABAVP supporters also called an indefinite shutdown in the plains from Saturday.

Police said the ABAVP supporters also damaged few vehicles and pelted stones at GJM activists. One of the GJM activists also suffered a serious injury after being struck by an arrow.

The situation was tense but under control, police said.

The two groups also fought a pitched battle Friday as ABAVP stopped a rally taken out by GJM activists at Malbazar sub-division of Jalpaiguri, about 40 km from here. The rally was taken out to press its demand for inclusion of Terai and Doars in the proposed Gorkhaland territory.

In protest, the Adivasis – who are against the GJM’s bid to include the plains areas in their agitation for a separate Gorkhaland state – put up road blockades at important points across Malbazar.

PHOTO FEATURE: Nepalese Men taking a break during a long journey

 CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO ENLARGE

Nepalese men with wicker basket bush and knives . Date taken - 1875

PHOTO FEATURE: Lord Hardinge’s statue and the Ochterlony Monument

 

Photograph of Lord Hardinge's statue and the Ochterlony Monument, from 'Views of Calcutta and Barrackpore' taken in the 1860s by Samuel Bourne. This view across Calcutta's Maidan shows J. H. Foley's equestrian statue of Lord Hardinge, Governor-General of India (1844-1848). In the background is the monument to Sir David Ochterlony, the victor of the Anglo-Nepalese War of 1814-1816, since renamed the Shahid Minar, and dedicated to Indian martyrs.

PHOTO FEATURE: Day two of ABAVP carnage

 ALL PHOTOS BY HIMALAYA DARPAN
Click on the images to enlarge

Day Two of carnage unleashed by the cadres of Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikash Parishad and the injured recuperating in the different hospitals. All Photo by Himalaya Darpan

PHOTO FEATURE: A rare photo of Darjeeling Himalayan Railway and bullock carts

ca. 1930, Darjeeling, India --- A steam driven passenger train negotiates a bend on a narrow track which descends towards Darjeeling. Two "brake men" ride at the rear of the end carriage. --- Image by © Hulton-Deutsch Collection/CORBIS

PHOTO FEATURE: Major clash between DYFI and GJM cadres averted at Salugara, near Siliguri

ALL PHOTOS BY HIMALAYA DARPAN

Click on the image to enlarge

PHOTO FEATURE: DYFI and GJM confront each other, clash averted

DYFI cadres at Salugara. (Below) Gorkha Janmukti Morcha cadres face to face with the DYFI cadres. Photo by Himalaya Darpan

PHOTO FEATURE: Armed ABAVP cadres move around Dooars Terai

Armed Cadres of Akhil Bharatiya Adhivasi Vikash Parishad moving around in the streets of Dooars Terai. Photo by Himalaya Darpan

DARJEELING HILLS:Bandhs off, with a tea stricture – - Gurung wants Gorkhaland mark on packets

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

Houses of Morcha supporters burn in Jalpaiguri. Kundan Yolmo

Jan. 17: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) today lifted its hill bandh but not before party chief Bimal Gurung said every packet of Darjeeling Tea would have to carry a Gorkhaland label.

The Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad, which had called a Dooars strike yesterday, also lifted the bandh but after several clashes with Morcha activists.

At Nagrakata, an area in the Dooars in Jalpaiguri district, thousands of tribal activists of the Adivasi outfit set fire to five houses, all of alleged Morcha supporters, and a shop at Chadar Line in Jalpaiguri town. The Morcha supporters managed to flee.

A motorcycle and a Maruti van were also set ablaze. Police had to burst tear gas shells to disperse the tribals.

In Banarhat, also in the Dooars, Morcha supporter Chetan Rai was hit by an arrow. His bike too was set on fire.

Morcha activists, assembled at Salugara on the outskirts of Siliguri, torched three autorickshaws on NH-31 because the vehicles were running despite the bandh being in force. One driver was hurt.

The attack on the autorickshaws later sparked a clash between the Morcha and the DYFI. Both sides hurled bricks at each other, prompting the police to burst tear gas shells again.

Gurung’s diktat to put the Gorkhaland mark on every packet of Darjeeling Tea came at a public meeting in Gorubathan, Kalimpong, which is near the Dooars. “From now on, each packet of Darjeeling Tea should carry the mark of Gorkhaland before moving out (of the hills),” he said.